Spirit Magazine - Winning Performance

WhenI first learned that the theme of this issue of the Spirit magazine would be “winning performance,” I caught myself wondering what do I, as a music lesson dropout, know about that topic! Fortunately with time to ponder the theme, I can see that winning performances do not all take place on a stage. When I hear, for example, of the ways the older students in each level of the school welcome and care for the new, younger students, or when I consider the energy and effort of the Maryville staff to bring peace and joy to residents and their fellow workers, my heart overflows with gladness.

It is evident that the students have learned well from their teachers and mentors the standards for making this world a better place – one “performance” at a time. At Maryville the truly great “performances” are given by staffers who have successfully learned how to put themselves in the position of the residents.

With the student body of Valley Catholic numbering more than 1,000 for the first time in the 110-year history of the school, the Sisters who paved the way before us must be so pleased. Nothing would make them more proud than to know that the students in the high school earned the Oregonian Cup at the 3A level for the second year in a row! They (and we) are proud because it gives evidence of the efforts of parents, faculty, staff and coaches to encourage a well-rounded development of talents and abilities as seen in academics, activities, athletics and last, but certainly not least, sportsmanship.

The Sisters appreciate the way our mission is carried out beginning with Board Directors and Presidents through to the newest hire on campus. This campus is a “winning performance”!

Sincerely and gratefully,

Celebrating the arrival of the 2013 Oregonian Cup. Left to right: Valley Catholic Athletic Director Joel Sobotka, Sister Joyce Barsotti ’58, SSMO Ministries Corporation President Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen, SSMO Superior General Sister Charlene Herinckx ’66, Valley Catholic School President Bob Weber, Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Assistant Executive Director Peter Weber and Valley Catholic High School Principal Ross Thomas.

4 Winning Performance

The Oregonian Cup not only reflects past accomplishments and campus pride; it holds the hopes and Valiant dreams of future generations.

8 Our Campus. Our Community.

Two awards ceremonies demonstrate the lasting impact of members of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon campus community across Oregon.

12 On Pinning the Number 92 on My Son before Basketball Tryouts

Brian Doyle, editor of Portland Magazine at the University of Portland, shares the emotional bond of a father and son.

14 Not Just Par for the Course

On the course and off, the 2013 campus golf tournament was “A wHole in One.”

16 Coming Home: Alumni Weekend 2013 Moments to reconnect. Friendships for a lifetime.

18 Alumni News

From weddings to education to adventures, alumni share special moments in their lives.

24 Remembering Sister Bernadette Ann Sohler

Sister Angeline Sohler ’43 shares memories of her cousin and Sister.

Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon

Sister Charlene Herinckx ’66, Superior General

Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon

Ministries Corporation

Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen, President Editor

Barbara Kerr, APR

Designers

Patricia McDonald, Alejandro Appel

Contributors

Sharlayne Buuck, Joe Cramer, Brian Doyle, Sister Charlene Herinckx ’66, Grace Le Chevallier, Sister Angeline Sohler ’43, Jeff Szabo

Spirit magazine is published by the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon and their sponsored ministries. All rights reserved.

Questions, comments or address changes:

SSMO Ministries Corporation

4440 SW 148th Avenue

Beaverton, OR 97007

503-644-9181

spirit@ssmoministries.org

Front and back cover photos by Jeff Szabo. Photo of Austin Lundin ’11 courtesy of the University of Southern California.

Winning Performance

The Oregonian Cup not only reflects past accomplishments; it holds the hopes of future generations.

Itstands 20 inches tall. Seven inches across at the base. Fifteen inches across at the handle.

The distinguished, silver Oregonian Cup not only reflects past accomplishments and campus pride; it holds the hopes and Valiant dreams of future generations.

Valley Catholic is now a back-to-back winner of the 3A Oregonian Cup, which is presented by the Oregon School Activities Association and sponsored by The Oregonian.

Speaking to a standing-room-only assembly in the Valley Catholic High School gymnasium, OSAA Executive Assistant Director Peter Weber said, “The Oregonian Cup is won both on the field and in the classroom. It recognizes overall school excellence in academics, activities, athletics and sportsmanship.”

He added, “In its truest sense, this is a community award. It seems appropriate to recognize a community that obviously takes tremendous pride in their school and its students. The pride that teachers have in seeing their students succeed. The pride that coaches take in guiding students to fulfill their dreams and the pride the parents have in wanting only the best for their children. Most of all, this is the pride that you, the student, have in yourselves and each other to work together towards a common goal of excellence.”

Athletic Director Joel Sobotka noted, “If you look at those four areas – academics, athletics, sportsmanship and activities – I think it’s the true measure of excellence in a high school.”

Principal Ross Thomas believes the cup enhances the overall student experience. “Many sports seasons end in disappointment,” he said. “A few end in joy. But an overall cup can turn even a second or third or fourth or fifth place finish into jubilation because everyone

contributed. We don’t cut anyone. And even if you only competed for a minute, your grade point average goes into the calculation for that team. That’s healthy for a school and important for our students.”

Thomas says the award also enhances the future of the school. “There’s not a direct relation but there is a parallel,” he said. “The more success, the more admissions. The more admissions, the more success.”

Thomas also believes that Valley Catholic students confirm that success when graduates continue their education. “It’s encouraging for our faculty and staff to see the ambition that our students show in their applications,” he said. When our classes are challenging and well taught, when our SAT and ACT tests confirm academic success, a student has the confidence that he or she will be an accomplished student at any school he or she wants to attend.”

That confidence enhances Valley Catholic’s tradition of winning performance. “If you have high ambitions for the future of your education, that means you really enjoyed the present and the immediate past,” said Thomas. “When you say to yourself, ‘I want to do a lot more of this and I want to do it at the best place I can – not just because I believe I am prepared academically – but because I love it.’”

“If you look at those four areas –academics, athletics, sportsmanship and activities – I think it’s the true measure of excellence in a high school.”

– Joel Sobotka, Athletic Director

“There are probably not more than half a dozen schools in the western United States that have successfully made the transition from all girls to coed. The Oregonian Cup shows the maturity of our school. It’s a great, tangible confirmation of what we know. It’s wonderful for everyone to know that hard work has been recognized.”– Ross Thomas, Principal, Valley Catholic High School

The

Meaning of the Oregonian Cup

“It is a real honor for Valley Catholic to win the Oregonian Cup, not just once but twice! As this award is given for all-around excellence, we couldn’t be more proud to be commended for demonstrating superior quality in academics, athletics, activities and sportsmanship. Truly, our whole campus community has united in its efforts to ‘strive for excellence’ in a manner which ‘honors the unique gifts of each’! Coming out ahead – all the while exuding grace, respect and humility – now that’s Valiant! – Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen, President, SSMO Ministries Corporation

“Winning the Oregonian Cup for a second consecutive year just reinforces that the level of success we enjoyed last school year was merely a sign of things to come. We are constantly striving to be the very best school we can be both academically and athletically and winning this award in back-to-back years is a goal that we are thrilled to achieve. We are already aiming for a three-peat for this school year.” –Bob Weber, President, Valley Catholic School

“It honors an entire school community. You’re not only talking about championships and state tournaments in athletics, you’re talking about top 10 academic finishes across the board. You’re talking about school activities and sportsmanship, which not only come from your students and your faculty and your coaches and your administrators but from your fans. To win it back-to-back really validates where we are and where we hope to stay as far as excellence. It’s how we want our students to perform – not only on the field and in the court – but in the classroom. As long as we do that, I think we’ll be in the hunt for it every year.” – Joel Sobotka, Athletic Director, Valley Catholic High School

“It is a tremendous honor to once again be the recipient of the Oregonian Cup. It is a testament to all the hard work, not only by the athletes, but also to everything that the coaches and fans put into making this award possible.” – Carter Buuck, 2013-2014 Student Body President, Valley Catholic High School

“The Oregonian Cup is won both on the field and in the classroom. It recognizes overall school excellence in academics, activities, athletics and sportsmanship.” – Peter Weber, Assistant Executive Director, Oregon School Activities Association

Left to right: Director of Campus Life Mary Donovan, Principal Ross Thomas, Physical Education faculty member and Girls Soccer Coach Kayla Crandall, and Athletic Director Joel Sobotka during the presentation of the 2013 Oregonian Cup.

These accomplishments contributed to Valley Catholic earning the 2012-2013 Oregonian Cup:

Academic Accomplishments:

Valley Catholic ranked in the top 10 in the Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Awards in 18 different activities. The honors included an overall winner (Dance and Drill) and a classification winner (Boys Cross Country).

Athletic Accomplishments:

State championships: Girls Basketball and Dance & Drill.

Second place finishes: Girls Cross Country, Girls Soccer, Girls Golf, and Girls Track & Field. In 12 activities overall, the Valiants finished in the top six.

To learn more: A video of the 2013 Oregonian Cup presentation is available at youtube.com/valleycatholicschool.

Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle (far right) congratulates the nominees and winners of the 2013 Spirit of Beaverton Awardsincluding Valley Catholic High School faculty member Erin Cole and senior Erin Cochran (seventh and eighth from the left).

Our Campus. Our Community.

Two awards ceremonies demonstrate the impact of members of the SSMO campus community across Oregon.

At the Tiger Woods Center on the Nike campus, a faculty member and a student – both from Valley Catholic – receive applause and congratulations from Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle.

At the Salem Convention Center, a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon receives a prolonged ovation and congratulations from the president of Portland Community College.

Those two moments demonstrate more than winning performance. They show the lasting impact of members of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) campus community across Oregon.

Sr. Adele Marie Altenhofen, president of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Ministries Corporation, said, “The impact of those who are part of the SSMO campus family extends far beyond our campus. The quality of their dedication and service reaches across Beaverton, Washington County and beyond.”

She added, “Valor, compassion, joy, sustainability via simple living – these are all hallmarks of the SSMO campus family.”

Teaching by example

Sponsored by the City of Beaverton and the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Service to Beaverton Awards are presented to women and men who have made positive contributions to the city and its neighborhoods. In 2013, judges reviewed 50 nominations and selected six award recipients. Two of the six awards went to members of the Valley Catholic community: faculty member Erin Cole and senior Erin Cochran.

Erin Cole teaches environmental science and is advisor to the Serving Our Community (SOC) Club at Valley Catholic High School. Cole involves her students in SOLVE activities in her classroom, leads the Serving Our Community club in supporting monthly game nights for veterans, prepares sandwiches and lunches for homeless shelters and supports the club’s “Hunger Awareness Banquet.”

In his remarks, Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle called Cole “a passionate advocate for developing young minds in our schools.” He added, “She has shown them the value of being connected with the community. And isn’t that what a teacher is supposed to do?”

Erin Cole said, “It’s fantastic that the leadership and service projects of our students are getting recognized by a larger audience beyond our campus. I think this shows that Valley Catholic is not only a great place to be, but a great agent for reaching out to the community.”

As a member of the Beaverton Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board, Erin Cochran helped identify and actively respond to the issue of teen homelessness. In accepting the award, Cochran, who has studied with Erin Cole, put it simply. “It’s an honor to serve Beaverton,” she said. “I look forward to helping and serving in the future.”

Honoring service (left to right): Valley Catholic School President Bob Weber, Valley Catholic High School faculty member Erin Cole, Valley Catholic senior Erin Cochran ’14 and SSMO Ministries Corporation President Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen at the 2013 Service to Beaverton Awards.

Service with love

The logo of Portland Community College (PCC) logo is a diamond. It symbolizes the ideals of opportunity and the power of education to transform lives. PCC established its Diamond Alumni Awards to honor alumni for their leadership, achievement and service to the community. Honorees are recognized for becoming community leaders along their professional and personal journeys.

Sister Theresa Ann Bunker was a 2013 Diamond Alumni Award recipient. She was honored for 42 years of what she calls a “joy-filled ministry” at Maryville Nursing Home.

In addition to providing skilled nursing care, Sister Theresa Ann helped educate students from across the region as they did their medical practices at Maryville. She said, “Since receiving the award, many people that I met - students and families from our campus, across Oregon and beyond - have written to congratulate me. It’s so gratifying to have had the opportunity to touch so many lives.”

Above right: Former PCC President Dr. Preston Pulliams (left) and PCC Board of Directors Zone 1 Chair Denise Frisbee (right) congratulate 2013 Diamond Alum Award recipient Sister Theresa Ann Bunker.

To learn more:

Videos of the 2013 Service to Beaverton Awards presentation to Erin Cochran and Erin Cole – and the 2013 PCC Diamond Alumni Award presentation to Sister Theresa Ann Bunker – are available at youtube.com/valleycatholicschool.

On Pinning the Number 92 on My Son Before Basketball Tryouts

His back all tense and a dagger of sweat down the middle of his shirt like a blade.

I try to cut the heat by saying man, ninety-two, what are you, a defensive tackle?

But he’s not exactly in the mood which I can tell just from the tone of his silence.

I fumble with the safety pins to make sure all four corners are tacked down tight.

The last thing you need at tryouts is your number flapping in the wind like a geek.

I get three pins in clean and fiddle around the last one a while on purpose because I am utterly overwhelmed and am trying not to kneel down in the echoing hallway

And cry and bang my head on the icy concrete because I love this boy more than I

Can ever tell you or explain even to myself and I so want him to do well and make

The team but he might not and then I would have to give him the speech about how

To mill pain into accomplishment, how to turn it on the lathe of your will and such,

You know the speech, you got it from your dad, I got it from mine, every dad ever

Has to give that speech eventually which stinks because it means every child ever

Sooner or later feels the hot lick of disappointment and pain and embarrassment & Humiliation, the girl says no, your name’s not on the roster posted on the gym wall,

You punt the test, you miss the shot, and this is not even to mention the major pain

That comes for us all but in the best of worlds comes later in life and not when you

Are a kid like this boy with my hand on his shoulder in the roiling hall by the gym.

I click the last pin and cup his face in my hand and say dude, I love you, be quick,

Be yourself, be relentless, and we touch fists and he runs off with the other players

And I stand there shaking so bad one of the other dads looks at me apprehensively

Like is he going to have to phone the emergency medical techs or what so I shuffle

Outside into the wild wet air and try not to think about anything at all whatsoever

But as usual I wonder why the very best thing is the one thing that hurts the worst.

Brian Doyle is the editor of Portland Magazine at the University of Portland; his most recent collection of spiritual essays is The Thorny Grace of It, from Loyola Press.

Not Just Par for the Course

On the course and off, the 2013 campus golf tournament was “A wHole in One”

Tiger wasn’t sporting his famous signature red Polo shirt and black pants. After all, it wasn’t a Sunday. But his mere presence on the 15th hole caused other golfers to pause and acknowledge a legend. The swing. The swagger. The big hug for Bishop Kenneth Steiner.

No, it wasn’t Tiger Woods who dazzled the crowd at the “A wHole in One” golf tournament on Sept. 12, 2013. The “Tiger” whose growl captured the imagination of the golfers was a tribute to the magic moment in 1996 when Tiger Woods hit a perfect 366-yard drive on the 15th hole at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course on the way to his third U.S. Amateur Championship.

One hundred tournament golfers experienced their own Tiger Woods moment, having their photo taken with “Tiger” on the 15th hole before placing their golf balls at the 366-yard marker, giving them an outstanding approach to the pin.

That unique approach extends to the tournament: linking the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon campus with the community that it serves. Sisters and campus leaders personally thank regional business leaders for their support –a symbol of the lasting relationships that extend beyond the 43-acres of the Sisters’ Beaverton campus.

“A wHole in One” is named – not just for the aspirations of every golfer – but because it is the one annual event that supports the entire Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) campus community: the Sisters, Maryville Nursing Home and Memory Care, and Valley Catholic School.

So mark your calendar for Thursday, Sept. 11 and join us for the 2014 “A wHole in One” tournament.

You never know who you might meet on the course.

Sharlayne Buuck is Director of Development for the SSMO Foundation.

Seen and heard at the 2013 “A wHole in One” Golf Tournament

Sr. Charlene Herinckx ’66, SSMO Superior General, in the swing and patrolling the course like a champion in a chauffeured golf cart.

Sean Dooney of Leonard Adams Insurance sinking a long putt to put his foursome in contention for the lead.

Watch the birdie: “Tiger” posing for photos

Spirits soaring like eagles: Prizes for every golfer and the winning teams

“Having a photo taken with Tiger was a dream come true.” – Bob Weber, Valley Catholic School President

On a day when everything was above par – and a lot of scores were below par –Bret Cope of the Maryville Board of Directors summed it up:

“What a grand day...sun, golf, and friends. Now if you can just make the greens a little slower…”

Photos and video from the 2013 “A wHole in One” golf tournament are available on the SSMO campus Flickr and YouTube sites.

A Moment to Reconnect: Our Alumni Reunions

Why do alumni return to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon campus? Here’s what some of our alumni told us during Alumni Weekend 2013.

s Enjoying a drink with your high school English teacher.

s Getting a tour of the new school with your sister, mother, mother-in-law, children, nieces and nephews from your eighth-grade teacher.

s Recalling the cost of tuition in 1963 while you talk about today’s tuition.

s Sharing stories with your twin sister and Sr. Alberta Schwall after Mass.

s Telling your orchestra teacher about the time you gave birth at a fire station.

s Realizing how long it has been since you played basketball as you play pickup with fellow alumni.

s Eating a sausage with your mother-in-law who shares many of the same stories of being taught by the Sisters.

Friendships for a lifetime

Twenty-six members of the Class of 2008 gathered at McMenamins Grand Lodge to celebrate their five-year reunion.

The Class of 2003 (photos in the second row above) held their 10-year reunion at Garden Vineyards, owned and operated by Melinda Wahlberg Wilson ’89.

For their 20-year reunion, members of the Class of 1993 met at the Oswego Grill in Lake Oswego.

The Class of 1963 (top photo above) held a grand gathering during Alumni Weekend at the Shalom Center at Maryville.

The Class of 1958 came home to the SSMO campus, celebrating their 55th reunion at the Villa on June 22.

We extend special thanks to our reunion coordinators:

Class of 2008: Kate Cary for coordinating the first of many happy reunions to come.

Class of 2003: Allan Sugiyama for a beautiful event featuring local flavors and country line dancing.

Class of 1993: Celeste Finegan Harding and Jeannine Haener Eisenbacher for their energy and warmth.

Class of 1963: Delores Pelster Murawski Ashenberner for her persistence and generosity.

Class of 1958: Pat Golden Gale for her continued dedication.

ALUMNI NOTES

Sr. Elma Heesacker ’57, SSMO recently celebrated her 75th birthday. She stays busy and happy working with four other Sisters (all age 75-plus), preparing vegetables for healthy meals in the Sisters’ dining room. On Tuesdays, Sr. Elma takes TriMet to visit local stores (including Bi-Mart for Lucky Number Tuesday). With the spirit of a homebody, she enjoys time at the SSMO Motherhouse but loves invitations to the beach.

After recovering from hip revision surgery, Barbara Battilega Brosh ’59 hopes to soon be making jewelry again. Her handmade collection can be seen at barbsmetalmagic.com. She also plans to return to her booth at the Troutdale’s First Friday Art Walk.

Mary Van Goethem Hansen ’63 continues to work as a professional fiduciary. Under the supervision of Oregon’s probate courts, Mary serves individuals who are protected by the court, providing guardianship, conservatorship, trustee services and care management. Mary and her husband Lawrence lost a child about 10 years ago. They remain close to their four daughters, who live nearby. Mary and Lawrence have three grandchildren and are the godparents to two children. After serving as a hospice chaplain at Hopewell House for 10 years, Lawrence is now a chaplain at Kaiser Permanente/Kaiser West Side Medical Center.

After graduating from high school, Jacqueline Cetinich Shook ’63 earned a degree in education. She continued her studies in the small medieval town of Tubingen, Germany where she studied language and art history. When she returned to the United States, Jacqueline moved to San Francisco to be near her brother and sister. In San Francisco, she taught special education for five years and met her husband, Robert Shook. They decided to move to Portland to raise their family. Robert is a health administrator who currently serves as director at the Center for Ethics in Health Care at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital (OHSU). Jacqueline and Robert have two children, Alexa and Justin. Both are graduates of Oregon State University. Justin serves in

the U.S. Air Force where he is part of the elite Special Forces Pararescue unit. Alexa is director of healthy life at Pacific Source. Jacqueline has served on many boards and has continued to teach on and off through the years. She is now retired and enjoying her grandchildren. “I feel blessed and am grateful for each day,” she said. “I can’t tell you how special it was to see everyone [at the 50th reunion] and I was touched by all who were there. It would be wonderful to keep in touch.  Life is so precious and it would be special to reconnect with such wonderful women.”

The second of six girls in her family to attend St. Mary of the Valley, Delores Pelster Murawski Ashenberner ’63 graduated from University of Portland School of Nursing in 1967. She married Walter Murawski that same year. She worked as a full-time nurse for five years then worked part-time as a staff nurse at Maryville Nursing Home while her children – six girls and one boy – were growing in size and number. All six girls attended Valley Catholic High School: JoAnn Murawski Grubb ’86; Donna Murawski Voldengen, MD, ’90; Jolene Murawski Knight ’93; Lisa Murawski Pearse ’94; Christine Murawski Campbell ’99 and Sara Murawski ’02. Son Dan Murawski attended Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1988. In 1995, Delores and Walter were divorced and their marriage was annulled.  For 18 years, Delores ran an adult care home for frail elderly women. In 2000, Delores married Sam Ashenberner, whom she describes as “a quiet, calm, peaceful, loving man, a high school teacher and single parent with three adult children.”  Delores and Sam are now retired and happily starting the next chapter of their lives.  “I will always be grateful for the education my sisters, my daughters and I received from my alma mater,” she said. “All of my children attended college.  All are leading meaningful productive Christian lives.”

For a short time after graduating, Marilyn Herinckx Cain ’63 became a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO). After leaving the SSMO Community, Marilyn completed her bachelor’s degree at Fort Wright College in Spokane, Wash. In Spokane, she immediately found

ALUMNI NOTES

a teaching position and met her future husband. After 11 years of teaching, Marilyn and her husband adopted an infant girl. Four years later, they adopted another child. Marilyn focused on home life until the children were well into their school years. Marilyn then returned to school herself, earning a master’s degree in counseling from Whitworth College. She worked as an elementary school counselor for 15 years, retiring about three years ago.  She has said, “What a rewarding job...to be able to make a difference in children’s lives.” Marilyn and her husband enjoy spending time with their three beautiful grandsons (ages 9, 5 and 3), visiting family, taking golf lessons, and working out. She also does volunteer quilting for nursing homes and young mothers.

Jan Hector Hazlett ’63 has been married to her husband Bob “for 47 years and still going strong.”  Jan and Bob lived in Southern California for the first eight years of their marriage. They then returned to Oregon to begin their small family of three. Daughter Brooke is currently living in northeast New Jersey, just 15 miles from Manhattan. Jan has been retired from a “world of color” in one form or another for four years now. Jan’s world of color included hairdressing (before Brooke was born). She spent 20 years with Rodda Paint, where she did interior design and color consultation and sold commercial wall coverings. Jan still loves to create – food, miniatures, jewelry, home decor, dog clothes (in lieu of grandchildren’s) – and she is learning to quilt.  Jan and Bob spend as much time as they can traveling in their small fifth wheel. Their latest big trip included a southwestern excursion to visit family. They are also enjoying their new best friend, a 4-year-old Maltipoo named Wile E. (Coyote). After her 2013 class reunion, she wrote, “I felt so blessed to see and visit with so many of the wonderful ‘girls’ that implanted so many memories. I hope that we will continue to stay connected throughout the coming years. I keep all of you in good thoughts and prayers.”

Arlene “Suzanne” Flores ’63 graduated from the University of Portland with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. As a third-grade teacher in Portland Public Schools, she became active in the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT). In the spring of 1971, Suzanne became a temporary full-time organizer for PAT. Her work combating a rival union launched a 31-year career working for the National Education Association (NEA) and its affiliates. Suzanne has worked all over the country – from Kansas to Denver to Washington, D.C., where she worked in the Teaching and Learning unit at NEA Headquarters. She “loved living inside the beltway and passing national monuments on the way to work but had too much granola left to retire there.” In 2002, she came back to Oregon to retire. Suzanne says she “didn’t find the man of my dreams until Jim moved across the street” in early 2003.  Jim and Suzanne started dating in late 2005. They were married on Aug. 2, 2008.

For the past 46 years following her graduation from St. Mary of the Valley, Kathleen Kindel Bishop ’67 has worked as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Kathleen and her husband Rodger have raised nine children; four live at home. Kathleen enjoys sewing, knitting, crocheting, making crafts and reading.

Cindy Diehl Foster ’78 recently became a grandmother. Her grandchild, Milo Silverstein, was born on Sept. 30.

“Light Duty” by M.J. Fisher Marvin ’91, placed as a runner-up in the 2013 Great American Short Screenplay Contest, sponsored by the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). The placement garnered her a partial scholarship to this year’s Summer Bootcamp at TheFilmSchool in Seattle, where she “had the great honor of studying the art of storytelling with Stewart Stern, Tom Skerritt, Warren Etheredge, John Jacobsen, and Rick Stevenson.”

ALUMNI NOTES

Aloha! Tara Mapston Narkon ’96 reports that she, her husband Mark, and their daughter took a fun-filled, twoweek summer trip to Hawaii, visiting Kauai and Oahu. Tara and Mark survived a brutal hike on the Koko Head Trail. The whole family enjoyed swimming in the warm, beautiful water. “It was great fun for my daughter to get a familial history lesson and see where her dad grew up,” Tara said. “She also enjoyed the history lessons at Pearl Harbor. It was doubly fun because we got to enjoy the Kauai part of the trip with my parents.”

Lucy Edwards Berger ’02 and Michael Berger were married April 13, 2013 at St. Mary Magdalen in Orlando, Fla. Lucy is the daughter of Gary and LouAnn Williams Edwards ’75 of Beaverton. She works in marketing and event planning and teaches Zumba at LA Fitness. Michael is the son of Michael and Susan Berger of Longwood, Fla. He is a personal banker at PNC Bank and enjoys bodybuilding at the gym. Lucy’s bridesmaids included her sisters – MaryPat Edwards ’06, Melinda Edwards, and Kelley Edwards ’17 – and friends Carmen Hinckley ’04 and Angela Kim. Her friend Vanessa Dziedzic was matron of honor. Lucy’s other immediate family in attendance were Mary and Bryan Edwards ’04 of Orlando, Thomas Edwards ’04 of Washington, D.C., and nephew Benjamin Edwards of Beaverton. Michael was attended by his friends Darryl Dziedzic, Kyle Stevens, Jason Gingras, Alejandro Luciano and best man James Craven. The couple honeymooned at Fort Myers Beach for one week before returning to the Orlando area, where they reside.

Melissa Joaquin ’02 married Isaac Buwembo on Aug. 3, 2013 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The wedding party included best man Kerry Graybiel, maid of honor Sara Murawski ‘02, groomsmen Eriyeza Buwembo and Dimiji Omikunle, and bridesmaids Alice Buwembo and Valerie Mathus ‘02. Melissa and Isaac met at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. They now live in San Francisco, where Melissa works in digital marketing and Isaac is pursuing a master’s degree in design strategy.

ALUMNI NOTES

Mariel Zagunis ’03 and Michael Swehla were married on Sept. 14, 2013.

Colin Hildebrandt ’03 was a part of a team at Puralytics that received the Global Honors Award from the International Water Association (IWA) for Solobag, a water purifying bag that provides safe drinking water in rural Africa. The project was conducted with GSMalawi over nine months in four villages. Families who used the Solobag twice per day reported that they were drinking more water because of better taste and smell, resulting in improved health.

Jenny O’Connell ’04 has started her first year of medical school at Oregon Health Science University (OHSU). After living in Northern California and New York since graduating from Valley Catholic, she is happy to be back in her hometown starting her new career.

Erin “Missy” Weldon ’06 reported that she married her partner, Hannah Palmer, in June 2012. She is the co-founder of Aril Consulting, which provides fundraising consultation and grant writing services to clients across the U.S. Erin lives in Captain Cook, Hawaii, where she is in the process of buying a small coffee farm.

Austin Lundin ’11 is a junior at the University of Southern California (USC), where she is competing in both cross country and track for the third straight year and having “the time of my life.”  She reports that she is active in her sorority while “studying pre-med/dentistry and achieving great grades” and remaining connected to her family.

What’s new(s) with you?

Our students forge friendships that last a lifetime. If you’re an alum with news to share, please contact Alumni Relations Manager Grace Le Chevallier at alumni@valleycatholic.org or submit your news on the alumni webpage: www.ssmofoundation.org/alumnirelations. We look forward to sharing your stories.

Honoring an Outstanding Alum: A call for nominations

During Catholic Schools Week in January, the Alumni Relations Department presents the Distinguished Alumni Award to an alum of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon campus schools. The award is presented to an individual who has excelled in his or her life’s work or personal endeavors. The honoree also demonstrates a high standard of personal integrity as they strive for excellence and live a valiant life. Please submit nominations for the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award to alumni@valleycatholic.org. Nominations should include the name of the alum, contact information and why that individual is deserving of recognition. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 20. Previous honorees include Pat Joyaux ’54, Pamela Martes Olberding ’62 and Mariel Zagunis ’03.

ALUMNI NOTES

In Memoriam

Barbara Benson Sharkey ’28 was born in Penn, N.D. to James L. and Mary Fay Benson. The Benson family moved to Oregon in 1911, eventually settling in Beaverton, Ore. Barbara graduated from St. Mary’s Institute (now known as Valley Catholic High School) in 1928 and entered St. Vincent’s Nursing School at St. Vincent’s Hospital, graduating in 1931. She married Fred Sharkey on September 3, 1933. Fred passed away in 1963. Barbara returned to nursing, retiring from Providence Portland in 1977. Barbara was predeceased by her brother, Charles, and sisters Georgianna, Louise, Kathleen, Alice and Annabelle. Barbara is survived by daughter Suzanne. Barbara was the oldest living campus alumna. A feature article on Barbara’s 100th birthday was published in the winter 2010 issue of Spirit magazine.

Shirley Anderson Schumann ’51 died Aug. 27, 2013 in Portland with her family by her side. An only child, Shirley was born to Alfred S. Anderson and Mabel T. Anderson on Jan. 22, 1934. She attended grade school at St. Mary of the Valley. In 1951, she graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, where she enjoyed playing tennis and golf. She also attended Lewis & Clark College. In 1958, Shirley married Neil F. Schumann and settled in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood to raise their four children: Lori Ann, Teri Lynn, Neil Patrick and Dyann Helen. She loved spending time with her family and especially enjoyed time with her five grandchildren. She last worked for Multnomah County, retiring in 1997. Her retirement years were spent traveling the world, including trips to Russia, Australia, Europe and Central America. Other interests included volunteering for St. Vincent de Paul and her parish, St. Ignatius. She was also active in the SOLO group for single older adults. She enjoyed sewing and gardening as well as playing Bunco and pinochle.

Cheeri Brinda Nichols ’71 passed away April 24, 2012 after a seven-year battle with cancer.

A Touching Tribute. A Lasting Legacy.

As they prepared to celebrate their 10-year reunion, members of the Valley Catholic Class of 2003 met first in shock, then in grief, then in loving remembrance.

On May 19, 2013, Beau Rasmussen ’03 went missing after the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco.

A group of Valley Catholic alums joined search teams and raised funds for search and recovery efforts. When the search was unsuccessful, they gathered, in late June, at a memorial service in Beau’s honor.

Allen Sugiyama, 2003 class president and reunion coordinator, was determined to create a meaningful legacy for his friend. A reunion raffle – made possible by donations from the Portland Timbers, Kassab Jewelers and others as well as a matching gift – provided $1,000 for financial aid at Valley Catholic in memory of Beau Rasmussen.

This gesture is a tremendous example of the meaningful relationships and friendships formed at Valley Catholic. The generosity of Beau’s classmates will keep his memory alive in the hearts and minds of his classmates as well as future generations of students at Valley Catholic.

The SSMO Foundation, on behalf of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon and Valley Catholic School, is grateful to the Class of 2003 for their heartfelt celebration of God and life in memory of their friend and classmate Beau Rasmussen.

Grace Le Chevallier Alumni Relations Manager SSMO Foundation

ALUMNI NOTES

Remembering Beau Rasmussen ’03

Beau made friends with everyone. He broke the barriers of stereotypes and sought to befriend any and all people regardless of age, gender, race or background.

He wanted to live a sustainable lifestyle and cared about our planet, helping to promote wind energy and alternative sources of renewable energy. Beau was well-educated, the life of a party, a great athlete, a comedian.

Beau enjoyed working in San Francisco, but his goal was to return to Oregon to be near his family and his friends. Oregon felt like home, he said, noting how lucky the 2003 Valiant alums were to have each other and how he wished we were all closer to each other.

Any time Beau came in town, we all would visit and enjoy his positive energy. Beau’s intensity, his smile, his laugh, his creative mind, his ability to bring people together and his caring for others will always be remembered. The lives he touched will touch others.

The last message I received from Beau was on the morning he went missing. I had posted a message about how the past 10 years had flown by since high school graduation and how I was impressed by the fact that so many members of my graduating class had married, had children and had earned advanced degrees. I expressed my love of my classmates and the people who helped to shape my own life and inspired others. Beau was the first to comment. He did so before his race in a comment as calm and cool as he was whenever he said “Amen, Brother.” Beau is still smiling, still praying for his friends and family and will always be alive in those that remember him. We love you, Beau, and we always will. Amen, Brother.

Allen Sugiyama Valley Catholic Class of 2003

Remembering Sister Bernadette Ann Sohler ’46

Sister Bernadette Ann Sohler ’46 passed away peacefully on August 13, 2013. Her cousin, Sister Angeline Sohler ’43, who is also a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon, shares this remembrance.

Sister Bernadette Ann’s early life was in the time of the Great Depression of the 1930s. She grew up seeing how her mother always fed homeless men who came to the door from the trains on the nearby railroad begging for food. At that time, several families also came from the Dust Bowl of the Midwest, driving by with all their possessions tied to the roof of the car. They settled in the woods next to Sister Bernadette Ann’s family farm. Again, she experienced the compassionate outreach to these families. The lessons she learned from her parents were often exemplified in her future teaching and work in parishes.

During her 67 years of religious life, Sister Bernadette Ann spent 55 of them teaching in Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Portland. For almost half of those years she also served as principal, which added up to a generous amount of volunteer overtime on her part. Sister Bernadette Ann was known for her organizational skills, her compassion for needy students and a winsome humor in dealing with the difficult child. Once, she ordered a misbehaving boy to sit close beside her. When she rose from her desk, she found that he had tied her shoestrings together! Her hearty laugh defused the incident. As a principal, she found ways to squeeze in one more student of need. Once she persuaded me take into my class a girl who was overage for the grade and had never attended school.

In 1984 Sister Bernadette Ann moved to a parish ministry, which she dearly loved. She became administrative assistant at St. Paul in Eugene, and then went to serve at St. Peter the Fisherman in Arch Cape and at Our Lady of Victory in Seaside. She served as pastoral assistant, youth minister and RCIA program director.

Father Nicholas Nilema ALCP, pastor, describes Sister Bernadette Ann as a “mother to us all” who united the parishioners of St. Peter and Our Lady of Victory parishes. Coming from Tanzania, he appreciated her assistance in understanding American ways. When his brother died suddenly, leaving five children, Sister organized fundraising to assist with the children’s education. Over the years, even in her illness, she kept contact with the children.

Hospitality was an important part of Sister Bernadette Ann’s presence. She started “Sunday Supper” in Seaside for senior citizens and for any in need. Soon it became a weekly social gathering where anyone, Catholic or not, was welcome to participate. Sister obtained donations of food and helped with the cooking. From 70 to 120 people came to the popular Sunday Supper. On another occasion, a conference of bishops was scheduled for a meeting in the parish hall. She undertook the task of finding lodging for them by obtaining access to vacation homes in the area. She also prepared lunches during the conference.

A history of diabetes finally made it necessary for Sister Bernadette Ann to undergo dialysis three times a week. For a time she remained in Arch Cape, commuting to Seaside Hospital for treatments. She moved to the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary in Beaverton in 2001 to continue dialysis at St. Vincent Hospital. She suffered courageously the four-hour-long treatments three times a week for 13 years. At the dialysis center she made many friends among the staff and patients, cheering them with her humor, wearing colorful socks and bringing small gifts. She was saddened when patients she had befriended passed away. During her illness, Sister Bernadette Ann received a floral gift every month – from a woman she taught 30 years ago – because “she helped me so much.”

Warm and generous smiles from Sister Bernadette Ann Sohler (front row, center in the group photo).

Joseph E Weston and You A Winning Combination We

extend our thanks

to everyone who generously supported the 2013 Joseph E. Weston Matching Challenge for financial aid. Together, members of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon campus community and the Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation raised $58,775 for the Valley Catholic School endowment and high school financial aid. At a time when one out of five students at Valley Catholic High School receives need-based financial aid, these dollars provide critical support in our ability to assist those students and provide them with an exceptional education at Valley Catholic.

4440 SW 148th Avenue

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www.ssmoministries.org

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on

Valiant dreams: These students at Valley Catholic Early Learning School remind us of the power of hopes and dreams for the future. Their reflections in the Oregonian Cup capture the unlimited potential of their own winning performances.

The annual Valley Catholic Gala supports the winning performance of our schools and students. The 2014 gala will be held on Saturday, April 26 at the Portland Hilton.